Rudy Crew: Education architect

Dr. Rudy Crew is preparing to make a promise to students in Oregon – from kindergartners to graduate students.

And for once, it’s not just about grades.

Last week, Crew began the arduous task of reforming Oregon’s public education system, facing the challenge of overseeing a sweeping range of programs. He’s the state’s first chief education officer, a newly-minted position designed as a part of Governor John Kitzhaber’s education overhaul, and he’s ready to get to work.

“This is not just about test scores. This is about the ability to make a new and sustainable promise to students throughout the K-12 and post-secondary universe. And we have to make good on that promise,” Crew said in an interview with the Vanguard on Thursday.

Speaking at a news conference at Earl Boyles Elementary School on May 30, Kitzhaber introduced Crew as someone who has dedicated his life to improving public education in America.

“He clearly has the courage to do what’s right, even if it occasionally ruffles a few feathers,” Kitzhaber added.

Crew, over a 30 year career, has been chancellor for the nation’s largest school district, New York City Public Schools, superintendent for the Miami-Dade School District in Florida and a leader of numerous other school districts and organizations. He was appointed by Kitzhaber and unanimously approved for the position by the governor’s Oregon Education Investment Board.

“A clear education vision is critical to Oregon’s life as a state,” Crew said.

While there’s tremendous potential in Oregon, he said he’s seen optimism and anxiety in people he’s met with across the state.

“It’s the kind of trepidation that comes with doing something you’ve never done before. We have to be intentional in how we solve some of the problems. Once we get that kind of momentum going, then I think it will carry itself forward. Right now, it’s just overcoming the inertia of something brand new,” he said.

A ‘bold’ history

Nationally recognized for his bold, unrelenting approach to education leadership – including a public disagreement with then-mayor Rudy Giuliani over school vouchers that led to Crew’s resignation – he has been noted for his commitment to creating college pathways for under-served students and enacting deep-cutting reforms such as curriculum standards and elimination of tenure for principals.

“We’ve given him a pretty full plate, I will admit,” said Kitzhaber in press conference remarks. “He needs to design, organize, and implement the statewide education system. He needs to develop an outcome-based budget for education, oversee the implementation of achievement compacts, oversee the reorganization of early childhood services, and reach agreement, probably the hardest of all, on how we govern our post-secondary education in Oregon.”

Crew’s appointment has direct implications for Portland State and other post-secondary institutions; public colleges and universities will be an essential component of the Oregon Education Investment Board’s plan for redesign and reform.

“ASPSU will definitely be observing Dr. Crew’s leadership since he will be making decisions that will affect all Oregon students,” said Victor Mena, ASPSU Academic Affairs director, in an e-mail. “I have no doubt ASPSU will be visiting Dr. Crew soon, being the biggest university in Oregon we have a lot of responsibility to lead and advocate for a better and more affordable tuition.”

“The knowledge-based economy demands greater education levels than ever before. Now more than ever, students need education or skills training in order to compete within the global marketplace,” said Matt Donegan, president of the State Board of Higher Education, in an e-mail to the Vanguard.

Crew will work with the newly-created Oregon Education Investment Board to carry out their “40-40-20” vision, an education goal that aims, by 2025, for 40 percent of Oregon adults to have a bachelor’s degree or higher, 40 percent to hold an associate’s degree or vocational certificate and 20 percent to have a high school diploma.

How universities will work toward that goal is still being explored – threats to the autonomy of the Oregon University System will impact this discussion.

“Right now I think the primary set of issues regarding universities has to do with the issue of governance – how various university campuses will be governed. That’s a very critical issue,” Crew said.

Although the issue of university governance does not ignite the same fiery protests among students that tuition does, some say the two are linked. In recent years, Portland State and the University of Oregon have dabbled with the idea of becoming more independent from the Oregon University System through the creation of institutional boards that would have power over, as explained by Mena, tuition rates, academic subjects, and other aspects of university life.

Funding a growing concern

Crew will face growing concern from students and leaders about post-secondary education funding.

“It would be great if Dr. Crew could start pressuring the state for more state funding for all of our public schools, from kindergarten to higher education,” Mena said.

“Higher education in Oregon ranks 45th in the nation for per student funding,” said Donegan, who is also a member of the Oregon Education Investment Board. “We’ve increased the student population by the size of another Portland State University, but have less money than we did before this enrollment growth,” he added.

As the state has disinvested, students have been burdened with growing tuition costs, explained Donegan. Crew recognized funding as paramount to Oregon’s success.

“If Oregon is going to be able to be a leader in numbers of students who attain a post-secondary, university-level degree, I do think it’s going to have huge implications on funding,” Crew said. “How we get that funding and where it comes from is much more tied to the governance question that anything else. But I think it’s absolutely an attainable goal,” he added.

Donegan explained that as chief education officer, Crew will expand current projects – including transfer and curriculum alignment between community colleges and the Oregon University system – while continuing to identify new opportunities for coordination between K-12 and higher education.

“The benefit of having a full-time chief education officer is to increase our focus on this mission – to have someone waking up every morning thinking about how students can better progress through the entire education continuum, as opposed to functioning within silos,” Donegan said.

Early childhood education also key

Investment in early education, as well seamless transitions throughout K-12 and post-secondary education, is critical, Crew explained.

“The truth of the matter is, we’ve got to make an investment in early childhood education and we’ve got to make an investment at the level of higher education. I see both of the ends of the spectrum as crucial,” Crew added.

This same focus on integration will inform Crew’s vision for Oregon.

“This will be part of the conversation that we’ll have at the higher education council. Where standards aren’t streamlined, we have to align them, and I think that alignment question is going to be among the most significant questions that we tackle.”


Crew emphasized the importance of informed student choices, whether they elect to attend a vocational, two-year, or four-year institution.


“One of my principles is: lead from your heart,” said Crew. “You want to leave the world in a better place than when you found it, and you want to pay forward that which was given to you, and a lot of people did exactly for me what I’m now hoping to do for thousands of students across the state of Oregon.”